Japanese and Uzbek Idioms: Shared Wisdom, Shared Mentality

Abstract:

This article presents a scientific analysis of the similarities between Japanese and Uzbek idioms. Through examples, the shared aspects of both nations’ worldviews are revealed. The meanings of the idioms and their cultural significance are examined, as well as their importance in translation and language learning.

Keywords: Japanese language, Uzbek language, idioms, proverbs, mentality, culture, translation, semantic similarity, language teaching, translation practice.

Every nation’s mentality and culture are reflected through its language. Idioms and proverbs, in particular, embody the accumulated experiences, values, and perspectives of a people over centuries.

Although the Japanese and Uzbek peoples are geographically and linguistically distant, the similarities in their idioms reflect shared patterns in thought and worldview.

This article analyzes the similarities of idioms in Japanese and Uzbek based on scholarly sources.

1. Shared Mentality Reflected in Idioms

Idioms in both Japanese and Uzbek are often rooted in life experience, wisdom, and ancient proverbs. The following examples clearly demonstrate this:

七転び八起き (Nanakorobi yaoki) – “Fall seven times, rise eight.”

This corresponds directly with the Uzbek idioms.

In both cultures, this phrase expresses resilience and determination in the face of hardship.

猿も木から落ちる (Saru mo ki kara ochiru) – “Even monkeys fall from trees.”

This aligns with the Uzbek expressions .

It means that even experienced individuals can make mistakes.

蓼食う虫も好き好き (Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki) – “Some insects even enjoy eating bitter herbs.”

This idiom corresponds with the Uzbek saying (“Everyone has different tastes”).

It highlights that personal preferences vary from person to person.

2. The Role of Idioms in National Mentality

Through idioms, nations express their life experiences, values, and psychological characteristics.

Japanese idioms tend to emphasize patience, calmness, and aesthetic values, while Uzbek idioms highlight friendship, devotion, and perseverance.

3. The Importance of Idioms in Translation and Language Learning

For translators and language learners, idioms hold particular significance.

A translator must prioritize the semantic and contextual equivalents of idioms rather than their literal meanings. This ensures that the translation feels natural and culturally appropriate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Japanese and Uzbek idioms show many similarities, reflecting shared aspects of the two peoples’ life philosophies.

Analyzing idioms reveals the interconnection of mentalities and cultural values. In translation and language teaching, the accurate and natural rendering of idioms is of great importance.

References:

Ikegami, Y. (2005). Japanese Proverbs and Sayings. Tokyo: Kodansha International.

Toshmurodova, G. (2018). Idioms in Uzbek: Concept, Classification, Interpretation. Tashkent: Fan Publishing.

Natsume, S. (2020). Understanding Japanese Culture through Idioms. Kyoto University Press.

Komatsu, H. (2016). Japanese Idioms: Cultural Insight through Language. Osaka: Nihon Bunka Kenkyūsha.

Nazarova, G. (2019). The Role of Idioms in Translation and Their Equivalent Matches. Journal of Philological Issues, No. 2, pp. 45–49.

Khudoyberganov, Q. (2017). Theory and Practice of Translation. Tashkent: Yangi Asr Avlodi.

Oblaqulova Gulshoda was born in Bakhmal district, Jizzakh region.

She is a first-year student at the Uzbekistan State World Languages University, Faculty of Eastern Philology, majoring in Japanese Language.

Uchechukwu Onyedikam (italic) 

Christina Chin (plain) 

1

harp-lute

a run of melody 

widening 

the baby lulled 

to sleep

2

watching

two shadows

behind the stacked 

wood pile

newborn puppies 

3

the soul

entwined with

Gángan

the rhythm of pounding 

prophecies 

4

harmonic 

phrasing of a dialect

unfamiliar jargons

scripted in my 

prescription slips

5

twilight corner 

all the memories 

in the shade 

skylight glimmers

the illipe nut canopy 

Student Life

Student life is a sweet feeling,  

A time brimming with energy and enthusiasm.  

The doors to new knowledge,  

Open on every page.

In the land of knowledge after school,  

We will proceed with a pure heart.  

Each lesson brings new hope,  

Setting new goals for ourselves.

Wonderful conversations with friends,  

Events and celebrations take place,  

Exploration and dedication to learning,  

Student life is the most amazing feeling.

Each exam is a new test,  

We will climb to the peak of knowledge.  

Studying and striving with energy,  

We will build a bright future.

Jo‘rayeva Marjona Baxtiyorovna was born on October 18, 2003, in the Termiz district of Surxondaryo region, Uzbekistan. She is a third-year student in the Uzbek language and literature department at the Faculty of Foreign Language.

These, and the project 999 on soundcloud.com/texasfontanella3 have the most duende to them. That’s why I want them out there, not cooped up in my imagination. I don’t see why synchronized chaos and ranger magazine cannot share in the sharing of this pivotal turning point in the nature of my oeuvre.

……………H…………………………….

………………….O………………………..

……………………….M…………………..

…………………………….E……………..

When i flip  through the pages 

of the earth i found the memories of how we

 dance to the songs of our fathers death and 

we buried  their smile in a blind home 

Grief is now our blood line

because our home now dances to the rhymes 

of dead songs and we care no more about 

 our ancestral  promises

We walk on the lines of injustices

and darkness now houses on our skin

for we no longer know our names

and our body now float on blood

Our feet  walk on fire for we say

it cool our body  and 

carved our body like portrait 

of lifeless bird soaring on the sky

…………………….H…………………………

………………………….O……………………

………………………………..M……………..

……………………………………..E…………

This is a poem about my home…

الرحلةُ إلى الداخل

تغريد بو مرعي – لبنان – البرازيل 

الظلُّ الذي سبقَ ظلّه

توقف أمام قطار الزمن

 فرأى

أنّ العابرين لا يحملون وجوههم،

وأنّ الخطى لا تترك أثراً إلا في الذاكرة.

تأمّل ذاته المنفلتة من زمنٍ لم يكتبه،

كان يعلم أن الماضي لا يعود،

لكنّه لم يكن يدرك أن الحنين

هو شكل آخر للوقوف في محطة لا تصلها القطارات.

سأله الزمن:

“لماذا تسبقكَ، أيّها الظل؟”

فأجاب بصوتٍ لا يسمعه إلا من فقد صوته:

“لأنني أدركت أنَّ الضوء يتأخر أحياناً،

وأنَّ الحقيقة ليست فيما نراه،

بل فيما يُحجب عنا.”

وحين عاد القطار ليعبر من جديد،

لم يتحرك…

لأنّه علم أن بعض الرحلات

لا تكون نحو الأمام،

بل نحو الداخل.

THE JOURNEY WITHIN

The shadow that preceded its own

Stopped before the train of time,

And saw

That the passersby carried no faces,

And that footsteps leave no trace—except in memory.

He contemplated his self, escaping from a time he never wrote,

He knew the past never returns,

But he hadn’t realized that longing

Is another form of standing at a station no train ever reaches.

Time asked him:

“Why do you go ahead of yourself, O shadow?”

And he replied with a voice only those who’ve lost theirs could hear:

“Because I’ve learned that light is sometimes delayed,

And that truth is not in what we see,

But in what is hidden from us.”

And when the train passed again,

He did not move…

For he had come to know that some journeys

Are not forward,

But inward.

©®TAGHRID BOU MERHI – LEBANON – BRAZIL

First of all, we wish everyone a very happy Earth Day! Here’s a picture from regular contributing artist Jacques Fleury.

Poet and essayist Abigail George, whom we’ve published many times, shares the fundraiser her book’s press has created for her. She’s seeking contributions for office supplies and resources to be able to serve as a speaker and advocate for others who have experienced trauma or deal with mental health issues.

Also, the Educational Bookshop in Jerusalem, a store that has the mission of peaceful dialogue and education, invites readers to donate new or gently used books (all genres) that have been meaningful to them, with a note enclosed for future readers about why the books were meaningful. (The books don’t have to be about peace or social justice or the Mideast, although they can be). Please send books here. US-based Interlink Publishing has also started a GoFundMe for the store.

We’re also having a presence at the Hayward Lit Hop festival this year, and we encourage everyone to attend this free, all-ages event! Many local writers will share their work and we will also host an open mic.

Passing along a message from someone who contacted us. If you’re interested, please email Mark directly at jennybridge45@gmail.com

Hi there, As a seasoned coordinator of educational events, this is my official introduction. Mark is my name. I hope our conversations won’t be hampered by my hearing loss. For an upcoming workshop, I’m searching for an illustrator, cartoonist, or artist to work with on a project. I’ll go over the project needs in detail and pay your fees in advance if you can assist. Once I indicate what has to be depicted or drawn, you can estimate the cost.

Mark Stewart from Ohio, USA.

This month’s theme is Lost and Found.

Brian Barbeito shares a mindful reflection on walking a paved road, finding a human place in nature. Rustamova Asalay depicts a farmer in tune with the sun and the cycles of nature. Stephen Jarrell Williams contributes several different ways of looking at and interacting with a city plaza. David Woodward contemplates life and aging while observing his garden, yet to bloom. Sayani Mukherjee dreams of flowers, rivers and mortality, biological life undergirding a modern city. Grzegorz Wroblewski, in a second set of poetry translated by Peter Burzynski, probes the corporeal and how we nourish ourselves.

Maniq Chakraborty speaks to being a lost traveler on a psychological journey. David Sapp writes of ordinary people and the weight of regret for their past choices, whether justifiable or not. Mykyta Ryzhykh’s poetry portrays people trapped in memory or dreamtime. Graciela Noemi Villaverde laments our human limitations: mortality and fragmentary knowledge. Sheila Murphy addresses isolation, confusion, and the weakness of language when it comes to expressing inmost feelings.

Bokijonova Madinabonu Batirovna’s piece explores the universality of grief and how it fragments and hardens some people’s selves. Denis Emorine’s novella Broken Identities explores the weight of the past, even a past we didn’t live through, and how it affects our sense of self. Tamara Walker (T.A. Aehrens) explores the practical and psychological process of repentance and healing from cultural sins in her novel Leaves from the Vine in an interview with editor Cristina Deptula. Vo Thi Nhu Mai’s elegant, understated poems express the weight of memory and unanswered questions.

Eva Petropolou Lianou’s poem, translated from Greek to English, and then to Bangla by Md. Sadiqur Rahman Rumen, expresses a warmer view of the past and nostalgia for the simple kindnesses of her childhood. Sterling Warner’s poetry revels in nostalgia, nature, and culture – from Silicon Valley to Oktoberfest. Mahbub Alam describes in great detail the Bangladeshi New Year celebration. Rashidova Shaxrizoda pays homage to her cultural past and the poetic heritage of Alisher Navoi. Kylian Cubilla Gomez looks at nature and culture with a whimsical and curious eye. Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa learns from the past while planning for the future and playfully musing about the present.

Nigar Nurulla Khalilova’s poetic speaker leaves a beloved to pursue artistic dreams in a journey that resembles a camel caravan. Lalezar Orinbayeva reflects on how her youthful dreams have changed over time, but she has not lost her optimism or determination. Ismailova Hilola outlines events that inspired her to become a teacher, how she found her life’s calling.

Eshboyev Oybek Davlat Oglu also speaks to education, highlighting potential roles for e-learning. Shahina Olimova researches the use of role-playing games in English language learning.

Chimezie Ihekuna shares his life’s purpose, asserting his artistic independence and desire to make the world a better place through writing and music. Biljana Letic of the Balkan Beats radio program interviews Maja Milojkovic about the spiritual, intercultural, and humane inspirations behind her writing. Shamsiya Khudoynazarova Turumovna’s poetry celebrates the beauty, grace, and discipline that goes into crafting haiku. Vernon Frazer positions words and shapes and fonts onto three pages with a loose theme of music. Rizal Tanjung explores the nuances and ambiguities within Anna Keiko’s abstract paintings. Jim Meirose’s piece mutates language into a mix of fonts and verbs and sounds, giving the sense of flying a plane.

Jacques Fleury also experiments with language as he reflects on learning to “go with the flow” of life, even when life’s “flow” is uneven, in a piece crafted during meditation. Gabriela Marin’s gentle poems evoke dreams, intimacy, and the imagination. Duane Vorhees’ pieces speak to attraction and intimacy, longing for human and poetic muses. Sam Hendrian explores moments of human connection and faux-connection.

Eva Petropolou Lianou urges human solidarity and friendship: she wishes for women to stand together and befriend each other. Dr. Jernail S. Anand’s essay reminds us that society’s leaders should represent ethical values beyond money and power. Rahmat A. Muhammad expresses her hopes for international and domestic peace within her country. Ahmed Farooq Baidoon urges the world to become worthy of its children. Isabel Gomes de Diego’s photos celebrate new and burgeoning life in various forms. Isaac Aju’s short story challenges the Nigerian social taboo about middle-aged women remaining unmarried, celebrating a broader scope of people and lifestyles.

Even as we find some new joys and new lives, we sadly lose others. Ahmed Miqdad laments the destruction of Gaza and its ravages on both land and souls. Emran Emon decries the killing in Gaza and the U.N.’s lack of action. Daniel De Culla lampoons those who lead humanity while willfully ignoring climate change.

Sandro Piedrahita’s tale of conquest, tragedy, and some tiny justice finally served dramatizes the Spanish colonization of the Incas. Z.I. Mahmud explores dystopian elements within Margaret Atwood’s feminist classic The Handmaid’s Tale.

On a more personal level, Anna Keiko’s youthful-sounding poetry expresses tender lovesickness and fear of losing her beloved. Taylor Dibbert’s weary poetic speaker gives up on the dating world. Bill Tope’s short story presents a tragic interpersonal situation with tenderness, causing readers to think about the role of the justice system.

Christopher Bernard’s piece illustrates how humans can defend ourselves against all sorts of danger with calm, mindful preparedness. We hope that this issue will not only charm and entertain, but inspire and strengthen you to face the days ahead.